Heritage World Coin Auctions
NYINC Signature Sale 3061 7-8 Jan 2018
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Julius Caesar, as Imperator and Dictator (49-44 BC). AR denarius (18mm, 4.18 gm, 2h). NGC Choice AU 4/5 - 4/5, flan flaw. Rome, March 44 BC. M. Mettius, moneyer. CAESAR · IMP, laureate head of Julius Caesar right; in left field, lituus and simpulum / M · METTIVS, Venus standing left, holding Victory and scepter, shield set on globe resting at side; in left field, I. Crawford 480/3. Sear 100. Sydenham 1056. RSC 34.
For two centuries, Rome had spurned the Hellenistic practice of placing the ruler's portrait on the coinage of the realm, much as they rejected the concept of kingship altogether. So early in 44 BC, many Romans must have been stunned to see the image of Julius Caesar, recently appointed dictator for an unprecedented fourth time, on circulating silver denarii. Like a profusion of other honors and titles, the right to place his image on coins had been bestowed on Caesar by the Roman Senate. Caesar's enemies may have had an ulterior motive in approving the honor, as it almost certainly would fuel the growing suspicion that Caesar intended to name himself king of Rome. If this was the intent, it succeeded, for within three months a conspiracy had been formed and Caesar was duly assassinated at a meeting of the Senate on March 15, 44 BC. This silver denarius carries a startlingly realistic, warts-and-all portrait of Caesar on the obverse and the image of the dictator's patron goddess, Venus, on the reverse. The obverse legend acclaims Caesar as "Imperator," or victorious general. Within a few years, Caesar's successors and even his assassins would show no compunction about putting their portraits on their coins.
HID02901242017
Estimate: 4000-5000 USD
Julius Caesar, as Imperator and Dictator (49-44 BC). AR denarius (18mm, 4.18 gm, 2h). NGC Choice AU 4/5 - 4/5, flan flaw. Rome, March 44 BC. M. Mettius, moneyer. CAESAR · IMP, laureate head of Julius Caesar right; in left field, lituus and simpulum / M · METTIVS, Venus standing left, holding Victory and scepter, shield set on globe resting at side; in left field, I. Crawford 480/3. Sear 100. Sydenham 1056. RSC 34.
For two centuries, Rome had spurned the Hellenistic practice of placing the ruler's portrait on the coinage of the realm, much as they rejected the concept of kingship altogether. So early in 44 BC, many Romans must have been stunned to see the image of Julius Caesar, recently appointed dictator for an unprecedented fourth time, on circulating silver denarii. Like a profusion of other honors and titles, the right to place his image on coins had been bestowed on Caesar by the Roman Senate. Caesar's enemies may have had an ulterior motive in approving the honor, as it almost certainly would fuel the growing suspicion that Caesar intended to name himself king of Rome. If this was the intent, it succeeded, for within three months a conspiracy had been formed and Caesar was duly assassinated at a meeting of the Senate on March 15, 44 BC. This silver denarius carries a startlingly realistic, warts-and-all portrait of Caesar on the obverse and the image of the dictator's patron goddess, Venus, on the reverse. The obverse legend acclaims Caesar as "Imperator," or victorious general. Within a few years, Caesar's successors and even his assassins would show no compunction about putting their portraits on their coins.
HID02901242017
Estimate: 4000-5000 USD